The ulnar collateral ligament complex is located on the inside of the elbow . It is attached on one side to the humerus and on the other side to the ulna. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that hold bones together and help control the movement of joints. A ligament serves as a tether between the bones.
When the ligament is torn, the tether is too long and the bones move too much. This can lead to pain, a sense of instability or looseness, and an inability to work or play sports. A UCL tear can be diagnosed through physical examination. Physician will perform a valves stress test in order to check for instability of the joint. MRI scan and X-ray may also be used to see the changes in the ulnar collateral ligament.
What are some symptoms?
- Pain on the inside of the elbow after a period of heavy throwing or other overhead activity.
- Pain when accelerating the arm forward, just prior to releasing a ball.
- Tingling or numbness in the pinky and ring fingers.
- A sudden pop or pain along the inside of the elbow, leading to the inability to continue throwing.
What to do? Visit our Physical therapist for an evaluation!
- Cryo-Compression
- Immobilization or splinting
- Passive Range of Motion
- Manual Therapy or Soft Tissue
- Therapeutic exercises
- Laser and Ultrasound
Sources: https://ir.uiowa.edu/pt_casereports/29/
